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The Steel will play at the Sun National Bank Center in Trenton, beginning next March.

Arena Football League Veteran to Lead Expansion Franchise

The Trenton Steel, which will play its inaugural season next year in the Southern Indoor Football League (SIFL), has officially found the man who will be calling the shots on the field of play. The team has officially announced the hiring of Jeff Hoffman to the dual position of head coach and Director of Football Operations, making the Arena Football League (AFL) veteran to first-ever front man of the expansion franchise.

“I am really looking forward to the challenge in Trenton,” Hoffman commented. “Being a Jersey Guy, this opportunity to lead New Jersey’s only professional indoor football team is very exciting to me and my family. New Jersey is a hotbed for football and goes largely unrecognized. I look forward to showcasing much of this talent.”

Hoffman served as the defensive coordinator for the AFL’s Utah Blaze in 2010, taking over the job midway through the season. He was previously the head coach and offensive coordinator of the Albany Conquest of arenafootball2 (af2) in 2008, and he also served as its defensive coordinator the year before that. The former Maryland Terrapin spent the 2005 season as the special teams coordinator for the AFL’s Columbus Destroyers, and he also brings to Trenton additional experience in the Canadian Football League and with the New York Giants. Hoffman was also part of the coaching staff of the New Jersey Red Dogs, which played in the AFL at the Meadowlands before relocating to Las Vegas in 2002.

“Jeff Hoffman brings many years of experience in indoor football to the Trenton Steel,” President Andrew Bondarowicz stated. “His defensive expertise will be essential to establishing a tough presence in the SIFL Northeast Division this season, and his approach to the game will resonate throughout the entire organization. Jeff’s veteran leadership and approach to the game is exactly what we need in Trenton as we seek to build a championship organization here. Jeff is the right guy for this job.”

The addition of Hoffman in Trenton provides the Steel with a second person who has significant experience in the AFL, with former Philadelphia Soul General Manager Rich Lisk performing the same role for the team.

“Jeff is a very well respected coach,” Lisk said. “He has a great reputation with players and knows the indoor game. He is going to be a tremendous asset to the organization.”

The Steel will kick off for the first time this upcoming March, and the team will play its home contests at the Sun National Bank Center in Downtown Trenton. For more information on the team or to purchase tickets, visit www.trentonsteel.com or call 609-656-3300.